Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission met July 25.
Here is the minutes as provided by the commission:
Present: Tara Dunning, Janet Shelton, Abdush Shakoor, Javed Irshad and Maria Kenny.
Absent: Richard Dixon and James Bakunas
Staff: Jon Burnet, Coordinator
Guests:
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Human Rights Authority, Springfield Region was called
to order at 5:35 p.m. by the Springfield Region Chair Tara Dunning.
It was determined that a quorum was present and that business could be conducted. Tara read
the confidentiality statement.
Minutes: Janet moved to approve open and closed session minutes for June 27, 2017. Shakoor
seconded and the motion carried.
Communications:
Welcome to our newest member, Maria Kenny.
New Business
Ratifications for case acceptance:
18-050-9002 A group home resident’s guardian is not being notified of his nutrition intake and
bowel functions as requested by the guardian following a related illness and hospitalization. A
Springfield HRA member is an employee of the program and presents a potential conflict of
interest. Telephone polls were previously taken of every member except the aforementioned and
the case was transferred to the Peoria HRA. Jay moved to ratify the case transfer. Shakoor
seconded and the motion carried.
New complaints:
18-050-9001 A psychiatric patient was detained involuntarily in the hospital’s emergency
department for eleven days without a court-filed petition or legal representation. Jon visited the
patient and then with hospital administration and impressed their need to carry on with involving
the courts immediately. He followed up a few days later to find they had filed a petition, the
patient had an appointed public defender and was on her way to being transferred. The HRA
would like Jon and Jay to follow up on policy/procedures with the hospital during an upcoming
visit. Janet moved to table acceptance of the case pending an update. Jay seconded and the
motion carried.
18-050-9003 A group home resident is being threatened with an involuntary discharge allegedly
because his guardian and physician would not agree to hospitalize him following aggressive
behaviors. The guardian has not returned a release that must be on hand to conduct an
investigation. Janet moved to table acceptance of the case pending receipt of the release.
Shakoor seconded and the motion carried.
18-050-9004 A group home has issued a statement of house rules and guidelines to residents,
families and guardians that is over-restrictive in almost every area of living and potentially
violates least restrictive rights under the MH Code. Janet moved to open the case. Maria
seconded and the motion carried.
Unfinished Business
Pursuant to the Guardianship and Advocacy Act (20 ILCS 3955/21) and the Open Meetings Act
(5 ILCS 120/2), Shakoor moved to enter closed session at 6:12 p.m. Janet seconded and the
motion carried. The purpose of the closed session was for discussion on any case assignments,
case progress, draft reports, responses and case closures (17-050-9008, 9010, 9011, 9013 and
9014). The HRA returned to open session at 6:55 p.m., having taken no votes in the closed
session.
Reports for acceptance:
17-050-9008 (St. Johns Hospital) The HRA reviewed the report in closed session and were
satisfied with it as drafted. Janet moved to accept and issue the report. Jay seconded and the
motion carried.
17-050-9010 (Lincoln Prairie BHC) The HRA reviewed the report in closed session and agreed
to a change in the findings in violation of the MH Code. Jay motioned to accept and issue the
report with the change. Maria seconded and the motion carried.
Accept responses, close and publish:
There were no cases up for closure.
Other unfinished business, announcements and comments:
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 26th.
Adjournment:
Janet moved to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 p.m. Shakoor seconded and the motion carried.
https://www.illinois.gov/sites/gac/Press/Documents/minutes/2017/spfld07252017minutes.pdf
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